The Taurus SHO returns
as the sporty version of Ford's new flagship introducing a new
generation of premium performance and fuel economy with the
3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V-6. This engine delivers V-8 levels of power –
with an estimated 365 horsepower – without compromising its V-6 fuel
economy
The 2010 Taurus SHO features an enhanced SelectShift® six-speed
automatic transmission with control paddles mounted on the steering
wheel, in combination with a sophisticated torque sensing all-wheel
drive system, a sportier SHO interior, subtle exterior design cues
and myriad technologies and features offered on Taurus

Taurus SHO will be
available this summer, starting at $37,995, including destination
fees

Chicago, Feb. 11, 2009 – One of America’s favorite “sleeper”
performance cars returns to the Ford lineup, powered by a Super High
Output (SHO) EcoBoost twin turbocharged engine. The Taurus SHO joins
Ford’s growing lineup of performance vehicles for the 2010 model
year, building on the legacy of the original, which earned a spot on
the Car and Driver 10 Best list four years running.

“The new Taurus SHO delivers on the authentic sleeper sedan formula
but adds all-new luxury-appointments, convenience features and
technologies to an unsurpassed balance of power and fuel economy,”
said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “This new sport
derivative answers enthusiasts’ calls for a premium Ford flagship
sedan with even more attitude.”

Introduced in 1989, Taurus SHO was conceived as a discreet
performance-oriented sports sedan, ideally suited to the automotive
enthusiast needing the room and capability of a four-door full-size
car. Produced through 1999, more than 100,000 were sold.

The original Taurus SHO generated a loyal following of owners and
enthusiasts, with an active club more than 1,000 members strong, an
online forum with more than 10,000 registered users and a Web site (bringbackthesho.com)
specifically devoted to convincing Ford to resurrect the SHO. The
2010 Taurus product development team spent significant time
listening to SHO enthusiasts.

EcoBoost™ Twin-Turbocharged Power

The foundation of the
new 2010 Taurus SHO is a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6
engine. This advanced powerplant generates an estimated 365
horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 350 ft.-lbs. of torque at 3,500 rpm,
resulting in significantly improved power, torque and fuel economy
compared with larger, normally aspirated engines. This also is
Ford’s most powerful EcoBoost engine.

A key feature of this EcoBoost engine is gasoline direct injection.
The direct injection of fuel into the cylinder during the intake
stroke, as opposed to port-style injection to an externally mounted
intake, produces a well-mixed air-fuel charge. Fuel vaporization
during the intake stroke cools the incoming air, improving
volumetric efficiency and lowers the likelihood of knock.

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 also uses twin turbochargers, as opposed
to a single unit. The reduced size of each turbocharger results in
reduced internal inertia, allowing this advanced engine to avoid the
“turbo lag” often prevalent in earlier-generation turbocharged
applications. From the driver’s seat, the rewarding result is linear
power delivery across a broad torque band from 1,500 through 5,500
rpm. Peak torque building quickly off idle ensures responsive
acceleration from a standing start.

SelectShift with paddle controls
and All-Wheel Drive

The new Taurus SHO
driveline combines a high-capacity six-speed 6F55 SelectShift
transmission with a sophisticated torque-sensing All-Wheel Drive
System. These components work in harmony to deliver ample traction
when putting EcoBoost power on the road. The six-speed transmission
offers a wide array of gears to enable spirited acceleration, yet
comfortable high-speed cruising, through a 2.77 to 1 final drive
ratio.

SelectShift provides conventional automatic operation or a manual
shift mode that gives the driver complete control over gear
selection. For performance-minded drivers, paddle controls allow
“match-rev” downshifts and will hold manually selected gears for
precise control. Intuitively operated, a squeeze on either paddle
will deliver an economical upshift under acceleration, while a
gentle push forward brings a smooth downshift, synchronizing the
engine and transmission speeds for responsive and positive
engagement.

The Taurus SHO driveline is contemporized with the incorporation of
a sophisticated All-Wheel Drive System that engages automatically
and unobtrusively. The unit contains an advanced array of internal
electromechanical clutches to efficiently distribute torque to the
wheels with optimum traction. Standard all-wheel drive allows the
Taurus SHO to efficiently deliver its high performance to the
pavement under a wide variety of conditions.

Taurus SHO takes full advantage of the multi-link SR1 rear
suspension design. Named for the 1:1 shock absorber ratio, this
configuration provides an inherently stable baseline for the SHO
development team to fine tune for enhanced driver control and
agility. In addition, the SR1 rear suspension geometry provides
increased travel, while enabling the use of 19- and 20-inch wheels
and tires.

For the discriminating automotive enthusiast, Taurus SHO offers an
available SHO Performance Package consisting of upgraded brake pads,
recalibrated EPAS for even more responsiveness,
a “Sport Mode” setting for the standard AdvanceTrac® Electronic
Stability Control and a shorter 3.16 to 1 final drive ratio for
faster acceleration. Summer-compound 20-inch Goodyear Eagle F1
performance tires on premium painted wheels also are included.

“Taurus SHO was always a stealth high-performance car,” said Earl
Lucas, exterior design manager. “The new SHO builds on the
expressive design of the 2010 Taurus, adding subtle cues that set it
apart.”

The 2010 SHO is available in a wide range of new Taurus colors
including Atlantis Green Metallic, a unique SHO color inspired by
the iconic Deep Emerald Green hue appearing in 1991.

The new Taurus SHO interior encourages performance driving.
Leather-trimmed seats with Miko Suede inserts, made from recycled
post-consumer yarns from plastic soft drink bottles, are comfortable
and luxurious. A perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel puts the
driver in smooth touch with the road. Front seats are 10-way power
adjustable. SHO accelerator and brake pedals are trimmed in
aluminum. The console, instrument and door panels feature SHO-specific
authentic aluminum appliqués. SHO branding appears on the unique
floor mats, and on the passenger side of the instrument panel.

Taurus SHO: Performance and
Convenience

The 2010 Taurus SHO
offers an impressive array of standard convenience features as well
as optional features and content. Standard Taurus SHO amenities
include:

Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, a new Taurus feature
allowing drivers to enter the car and start the engine without using
a conventional key. Drivers simply carry the fob as they approach
the vehicle, touch the SecuriCode™ keyless entry keypad, open the
door and enter, apply pressure on brake pedal and push a button to
start the engine.

MyKey allows enthusiasts to activate a restricted driving mode,
persistent Belt-Minder® safety belt reminder, audio system volume
limits, an earlier low-fuel warning, and consistently-engaged
AdvanceTrac® stability control. The top vehicle speed can be limited
to 80 mph, and speed chimes can be programmed to engage at 45, 55 or
65 mph further protecting their investment.

Easy Fuel™ Capless Fuel Filler System, a unique feature that
eliminates the need for a traditional fuel cap. Easy Fuel is a
hassle-free solution that provides a consistent self-seal after
every refueling.

Ford SYNC® is the fully integrated, in-vehicle voice-activated
communications and entertainment system standard on Taurus SHO. The
system combines 911 Assist, Vehicle Health Report and GPS-based
features including business search and call completion. SYNC
connects to MP3 players, iPods, memory sticks and PDAs. The latest
version of SYNC in the Taurus SHO adds Traffic, Directions and
Information, providing turn-by-turn route guidance and the
capability to access and personalize content.

Ambient Lighting allows the Taurus SHO driver to program interior
lighting from a choice of five soothing colors to suit any character
or preference.

The 2010 Taurus SHO comes standard with the full array of active and
passive safety equipment and features offered across the Taurus
range.

Adaptive Cruise Control, which allows the driver to set the
Taurus SHO cruising speed while using radar technology to monitor
traffic travelling up to 600 feet ahead, automatically adjusting
speed to help maintain a preset distance between vehicles. Adaptive
Cruise Control comes with Collision Warning with Brake Support
providing visible and audible warnings when slower traffic is
detected ahead. Brake support is activated if the driver does not
respond to provided warnings, and pre-charges the brake system to
prepare the vehicle for stopping.

Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) with Cross Traffic Alert
consists of two multiple beam radar modules, one each per rear
quarter panel. When an adjacent vehicle enters the defined blind
spot zone, and indicator alert provides driver warning in the
corresponding sideview mirror.

Cross Traffic Alert uses existing BLIS radar modules to sense
oncoming traffic while the Taurus SHO is slowly backed from a
parking space. When cross traffic appears within three car widths,
the system provides a visible message on the instrument panel in
combination with a sideview mirror warning and an audible signal.

Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion™ can be specified in
conjunction with heated and cooled first-row positions in the new
Taurus SHO. Multi-Contour functionality provides subtle but
continuous massage to help prevent back pain and fatigue and is
ideally suited to meet the needs of long-distance drivers.

Voice-Activated Navigation System includes a 10 GB music juke
box hard drive and a single CD/DVD player. When combined with the
optional rear camera system, rearview projection appears on the
centerstack-mounted navigation screen.